Bidirectional power feed digital communication device

Abstract

A digital communications port for communications with an external device over multiple conductors, the digital communications port including communication electronics for communicating radio frequency modulation (RF) communications over the multiple conductors. The digital communications port further includes bidirectional power feed electronics that are programmable to be configured to at least receive power from the external device using at least two of the multiple conductors so as to power the bidirectional power feed electronics and to power the communications electronics, or provide power to the external device using at least two of the multiple conductors so as to power the external device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A digital communication port for communications with at least first and second external digital devices over corresponding first and second cables, wherein i) the first cable has between two and seven conductors and ii) a second cable has eight conductors, the digital communication port comprising:
 communication electronics for communicating over the first and second cables, wherein the communication electronics performs orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) radio frequency (RF) modulation communications over at least the first cable; and 
 bidirectional power feed electronics that are selectively programmable to:
 selectively receive power from the first cable so as to power the bidirectional power feed electronics and to power the communication electronics, or selectively provide power to the first cable; and 
 selectively provide power to the second external digital device using the second cable so as to power the second external digital device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the first cable includes twisted wires. 
     
     
       3. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the first cable is a coaxial cable. 
     
     
       4. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are selectively programmable to provide power in one or more of a reverse power path or a forward power path. 
     
     
       5. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are programmable to be configured to provide a power relay configuration. 
     
     
       6. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are programmable to be configured to receive power from multiple external devices. 
     
     
       7. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are programmable to be configured to provide power to multiple external devices. 
     
     
       8. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are programmable to be configured to provide power to external digital devices connected in series. 
     
     
       9. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional power feed electronics are programmable to be configured to provide power to external digital devices connected in parallel. 
     
     
       10. The digital communication port of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) modulation communications include G.hn protocol communications. 
     
     
       11. The digital communication port of  claim 10 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than five conductors. 
     
     
       12. The digital communication port of  claim 11 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than three conductors. 
     
     
       13. A system, comprising:
 a first digital communication port; and 
 a second digital communication port connected to the first digital communication port using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) radio frequency (RF) modulation communications over less than eight conductors, 
 wherein the first digital communication port includes:
 first communication electronics for communicating with at least one first digital communication connector over the less than eight conductors; and 
 a first bidirectional power feed connection that is programmable to be configured to at least one of:
 selectively receive power from the less than eight conductors so as to power the first bidirectional power feed connection and to power the first communication electronics, or selectively provide power to the less than eight conductors; and 
 selectively provide power to a digital device using at least eight conductors so as to power the digital device, 
 
 
 wherein the second digital communication port includes:
 second communication electronics for communicating over the less than eight conductors; and 
 a second bidirectional power feed connection that is programmable to:
 receive power from the first digital communication port using at least two of the less than eight conductors so as to power the second bidirectional power feed connection and to power the second communication electronics; or 
 provide power to the first digital communication port using at least two of the less than eight conductors. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a third digital communication port connected to at least one of the first digital communication port or the second digital communication port, wherein the third digital communication port includes:
 third communication electronics for communicating with at least one third digital communication connector; and 
 a third bidirectional power feed connection that is programmable to be configured to at least one of:
 receive power from at least one of the first digital communication port or the second digital communication port using at least two of the less than eight conductors so as to power the third bidirectional power feed connection and to power the third communication electronics; or 
 provide power to at least one of the first digital communication port or the second digital communication port using at least two conductors of the less than eight conductors. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first digital communication port, the second digital communication port, and the third digital communication port are connected in series. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first digital communication port, the second digital communication port, and the third digital communication port are connected in parallel. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) modulation communications include G.hn protocol communications. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than five conductors. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than three conductors. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the less than eight conductors include twisted wire. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the less than eight conductors include coaxial cable. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first bidirectional power feed connection or the second bidirectional power feed connection is programmable to be configured to provide power via a reverse power path. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first bidirectional power feed connection or the second bidirectional power feed connection is programmable to be configured to provide power via a forward power path. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first bidirectional power feed connection or the second bidirectional power feed connection is programmable to be configured to provide power via a bidirectional power path. 
     
     
       25. A method for providing a digital communication port for communications with an external digital device, the method comprising:
 providing communication electronics for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) radio frequency (RF) modulation communications over less than eight conductors; and 
 programming bidirectional power feed electronics to:
 selectively receive power from the external digital device using at least two of the less than eight conductors so as to power the bidirectional power feed electronics and to power the communication electronics or 
 selectively provide power to the at least two of the less than eight conductors, and 
 selectively provide power to a second external digital device using at least 8 conductors. 
 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the less than eight conductors include twisted wires. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the less than eight conductors include coaxial cable. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to provide power in one or more of a reverse power path or a forward power path. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to provide a power relay configuration. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to receive power from multiple external devices. 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to provide power to multiple external devices. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to provide power to the external digital device connected in series. 
 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 programming the bidirectional power feed electronics to be configured to provide power to the external digital device connected in parallel. 
 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 25 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) modulation communications include G.hn protocol communications. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than five conductors. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications are performed on less than three conductors.